Herb Kohl: “I support the Hatch-Kennedy Child Health Insurance bill, but I reluctantly must oppose their budget amendment. I am…”

“I support the Hatch-Kennedy Child Health Insurance bill, but I reluctantly must oppose their budget amendment. I am pleased that the President has secured over $16 billion to address the serious problem of children who lack health insurance coverage in this Nation. I believe that the funding allotted under the budget resolution for child health can and should be applied for the Hatch-Kennedy child health bill. Mr. President, as a member of the Senate centrist budget group, I realize how difficult it can be to work across party lines to craft a budget plan. I was pleased to be a member of the Chafee-Breaux centrist group that crafted a fair and balanced budget plan. The budget plan that the centrists put together again this year is very similar to the bipartisan budget resolution we are considering today. I support this budget resolution and am concerned that the Hatch-Kennedy amendment would put the entire budget plan in doubt. Although I will vote against this amendment, I believe we must enact legislation this Congress that expands health insurance coverage for children. The Hatch-Kennedy Child Health Insurance and Lower Deficit Act is at the forefront of the proposals that Congress should pursue. The growing problem of children who lack health coverage is extremely troubling. A recent study drawn from U.S. Census Bureau data show that during 1995-96, there were 23 million children who did not have health insurance for all or part of the period.”